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TIGS has been a key player in leading SARS-CoV-2 viral biomarkers at the local level. TIGS is also involved in viral
surveillance of wastewater. The institute is currently genomic sequencing that helps in detecting regionally
working on expanding its surveillance platforms to prevalent SARS-CoV-2 variants. Data regarding the viral
encompass other pathogens and develop strategies to load trends is updated in real time on a customised
reverse the threat of antibiotic resistance. SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance dashboard.

ii. Rare Genetic Disorders: The Rare Genetic Disorders • Setting up a Pathogen Surveillance Network
programme focusses on genetic diseases that a ect TIGS has also liaised with BBMP to integrate
a small percentage of the population and do not wastewater-based epidemiology in the healthcare
have su cient therapeutic or management options. framework. This is crucial for setting up systems for
E orts are directed towards developing accessible monitoring other infectious pathogens and preventing
diagnostic assays that can be applicable to screening their spread in the city. As part of the Bangalore Life
carriers of genetic disease traits and cost-e ective Sciences Cluster (BLiSC), TIGS is now collaborating with
therapeutic strategies. a multi-city, multi-institute consortium funded by the
Rockefeller Foundation to monitor disease spread. Using
iii. Crop Improvement: The Crop Improvement programme environmental samples and clinical infection data
at TIGS is aimed at developing food crop varieties that gathered from various partners, TIGS aims to track
are more resilient to diseases and pests and are pathogen prevalence and diversity at multiple locations.
nutrient-rich and drought tolerant.

• Forging Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships for Rare
Genetic Disorders
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS Rare genetic disorders are not so rare in India, owing to
the large population of the country. There is an urgent
• Wastewater Surveillance for SARS-COV-2 need for the a ected population to be able to access
TIGS is a key partner of the Brihat Bengaluru Mahanagara cost e ective diagnostics and treatment, which are
Palike (BBMP) for wastewater surveillance carried out presently una ordable due to very high import costs.
at 28 sewage treatment plants under the
TIGS has been involved in an in-depth multi-stakeholder
Bangalore Water Supply and
engagement during the past year to understand the
Sewage Board (BWSSB) in
various challenges and bottlenecks present in making
Bengaluru. The wastewater
cost e ective diagnostics and a ordable treatments
infrastructure of Bengaluru
available to patients. Five collaborative partnerships
o ers an e ective resource
were initiated with hospitals, patient groups, and
to access and estimate the
spread of the SARS-CoV-2 research institutes to bolster e orts focussed on the
across the city. Scientists at development of low-cost point of care diagnostics and
TIGS have been involved in indigenised therapeutic options for patients on a
screening for the presence of fast-track pathway.
SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and for early indication of
infection trends. Further, it has also helped in the creation of
spatial and temporal heat maps on the distribution of viral

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